New York, NY (Top40 Charts) With roots stretching from the suburbs of
Chicago to the New Jersey coast, the story of The Shades actually begins in South Florida. Brothers Phil & Mark Jacobson met Andrew DeMuro at the University of Miami in 2008. Andrew joined vocal forces with Phil in the University's top jazz vocal ensemble, and with Mark in dorm rooms across campus, but the boys' musical paths rarely crossed until Andrew's first teaching job brought him to
Chicago in the summer of 2012, where Phil had recently begun a career as a solo artist.
While in Miami, the boys gained valuable vocal experience, sharing the stage with the likes of Billy Joel, Jon Secada, Patti Austin, Matisyahu, Raul Midon, and others. The Shades is a tribute to the group's eclectic list of inspirations, ranging from 60s & 70s rock and roll, to Motown, to modern folk and pop artists. Their earliest on-stage experiences together featured heavy doses of the Beatles, Stevie Wonder,
John Mayer and Allen Stone. Nearly five years later, they've put their own stamp on a signature sound that encompasses elements of rock, pop, folk, and R&B.
Of all their unique musical elements, the Shades pride themselves most on featuring close, three-part harmony in each of their songs. All three members sing, play, and write their own music. Through impressive arrangements and harmonies, they've developed a live act that is appealing to a wide audience, and critics across generations have taken notice. Their first original song, 'Take You Home,' was featured as a 'Daily Discovery' in American Songwriter Magazine, and was chosen as one of ten finalists in NewSong Music's International Songwriting Competition. The group toured the northeast in the spring of 2016 and received further honors in 2016 when lead vocalist Andrew DeMuro was selected as a member of Adam Levine's team on Season 11 of NBC's The Voice. Amidst all this, The Shades find time to give back to the next generation through working actively with a music and mentoring non-profit called Guitars Over Guns, giving several hours weekly to Chicago's underserved youth and teaching the importance of positive, healthy decision-making through the transformative power of music.
Having graced a variety of Chicago's stages, including House of Blues, Schuba's, City Winery & Navy Pier, The Shades spent much of the past year in the studio preparing for the release of their first major recorded effort, a six-song EP entitled, 'Miles Made of Inches.' Singles 'Take You Home' & 'The Wildfire' were released on all digital platforms in early 2017. Keep up with The Shades on social media (@WeTheShades) and visit their website for info on upcoming shows (www.wetheshades.com).
